Hokkaido Hotels

• konniemario
• Reviews: 64

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• idy
• Reviews: 185

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Hokkaido's onsen resorts

We stayed at a few onsen resort at some of the popoular hot spring areas in Hokkaido - Sounkyo, Noboribetsu and Asahikawa.

At these resorts, the rooms are not your usual international hotel rooms - they are very Japanese. How so? The rooms are not carpeted, but rather are covered with tatami mats. The standard measurement of rooms or apartments in Japan is by tatami mats. It seems the standard room size at an onsen resort is 8 tatami mats.

The room generally has Japanese tea making facilities (including a Japanese tea set), a small fridge, a closet, heater/air-conditioning, a small television (where you can watch pay-on-demand tv by slotting coins into a device), small shoe rack and 2 coffee table and chair set (one set is your usual off-the-ground set, the other is a Japanese-style set). When we leave for dinner in the evening, hotel staff will move the furniture aside and put down the Japanese-style bedding (futon).

The bathroom ensuite at an onsen resort is usually extremely small, since most visitors go for baths at the onsen and not in their rooms, so don't be shocked. Guests are provided with yukatas (summer robes), towels and slippers, which are to be worn when going when visiting the hot spring or even out of the hotel.

Unique Quality: Japanese-style accomodation, a definite departure from the norm. The onsen experience is also not to be missed.

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Written September 29, 2005

Futon on tatami - very Japanese!

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• idy
• Reviews: 185

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APA Hotel: Away from the city area

This is a normal hotel offering the usual facilities. However, instead of the usual tiny pre-fab bathrooms we've gotten used to in Japan, the bathroom here was of a good size, and the toilet even boast a high-tech toilet seat. The room itself was not particularly large, and had only 1 squarish window.

The chain has three other hotels in Hokkaido that are close to the city area. This particular one we stayed at was outside the city area, and was in close proximity to the residential suburb. The closest supermarket and other shops were a 15 minutes walk away. Go for a walk and get a glimpse of the local neighbourhood and its residents!

If you do not smoke, remember to ask for a room on a non-smoking floor.

Unique Quality: - Bathhouse / spa bath for hotel guests
- Toiletries, summer robes and towels provided
- Refrigerator
- Kettle
- Hair drier
- TV (with Satellite)
- Radio
- Telephone
- Wake-up call
- Internet access available

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Address: 005-0804 the Sapporo city Minami Ku river following 4
• Phone: (011) 571 3111
• Written September 8, 2005

Our room at APA

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• idy
• Reviews: 185

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Susukino Green Hotel: A short walk from the Sapporo malls!

We had a big impressive room at the fairly new Green Hotel, but unfortunately, the stay was only for a night. The hotel offers single rooms, twin rooms, and Japanese-style rooms. We had a very comfortable and good-sized twin room - it even had a balcony sitting area! Although the bathroom was smaller than usual, it was still relatively larger than those at other places (especially spa hotels).

Even though the hotel is located near the main road, we were not disturbed by any kind of traffic noises at all.

The hotel boasts a great location, being a short walk from the city's shopping area, as well as being only a 5-minute walk from Susukino Station on Nanboku Subway Line.

Guests can have meals at the hotel's restaurants in the basement, or relax in it's lounge in the evenings.

Unique Quality: - Toiletries and towels provided
- Refrigerator
- Kettle
- Hair drier
- TV (with Satellite)
- Telephone
- Wake-up call

• Opinion of Price: N/A
• Address: Hokkaido Sapporo-shi Chuo-ku Minami 4-jo Nishi 7-chome
• Phone: 011-511-9111
• Website: http://www.susukino-greenhotel2.com/
• Written September 8, 2005

Twin room of the Green Hotel

1 more images

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• naruto
• Reviews: 268

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Northern Lodge: Sounkyo Gorge's Accomodation

This is a very good place to stay when visiting Sounkyo Gorge. Very central, 5 mins walk from the bus station and pretty views of the mountains.

The European-style lodge is friendly and some staff speaks English. The rooms are mostly Japanese-style which is cool, and the baths are clean. They also have public baths like most Japanese hotels which I really dig as they often have glass windows with pretty views.

The restaurant on the ground floor is mostly made of wood and is where we had our dinner. It was made for a king and we ate and ate.

Rates are for one night with two meals (breakfast and dinner)
OFF SEASON: ¥9,000 ($75) per person
ON SEASON: ¥11,000 ($92) per person

The rates may have changes since 1999 so it is always good to check.

Unique Quality: -Western-style architecture
-Very central
-Great views of mountains and gorge
-A big souvenir shop on the ground flr next to restaurant

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: Sounkyo, Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido 078-1701 JPN
• Phone: 01658/5-3231
• Website: http://www.h-northernlodge.com/
• Related to: National/State Park, Eco-Tourism
• Written December 16, 2004

All bundled up outside the Northern Lodge

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• naruto
• Reviews: 268

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Ryokan Hanaya: Ryokan at Noboribetsu Onsen

A very nice traditional ryokan with moderate prices. Situated within walking distance to the Noboribetsu Hot Springs, Ryokan Hanaya has big comfortable rooms which overlooked the river and mountains (mine did)

We went during the off season so the price for a Japanese-style room with private bath/toilet was 10000yen per person with two meals. It was worth every penny. We felt like kings, and was glad we decided to splurge one night staying in a such a nice place.

Unique Quality: Great views of the surrounding, etc river and mountains.
Big comfortable, tastefully furnished rooms.
Delicious cuisine
Convenient location
Open air onsen bath available

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: 134 Onsen-cho, Noboribetsu-shi Hokkaido 059-0551
• Phone: 81 143-84-2521
• Written January 3, 2003

Ryokan Hanaya

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• naruto
• Reviews: 268

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Sapporo House Youth Hostel: Cheap, convenient accomodation in Sapporo

A youth hostel near the JR Sapporo Station, where dormitories and private family rooms are available.

Per person is 2800yen (approx. US$25) and the dormitories are spacious and the beds are comfortable enough.
Do note that breakfast and dinner are extra charges.

However, one downside to this place is that the walls are SUPER-THIN.
When I was there for one night, the family staying next door was up all night chatting and laughing and I swear you could hear each and every word they said. Then when I was packing my backpack for the next day's journey, they came in and told me to keep it down cos I was too noisy. @_@

Unique Quality: Convenient Location.

• Opinion of Price: about average
• Address: 060-0806 3-1, Kita 6-jo Nishi 6-chome, Kita-ku, Sa
• Phone: TEL 011-726-4235
• Written January 3, 2003

Sapporo House Youth Hostel

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• naruto
• Reviews: 268

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Minshuku Kiri: Akan Kohan's cosy Family Inn

Minshuku Kiri is a very quaint and cosy family-run inn situated in Akan Kohan. Spacious Japanese-styled tatami rooms, with public bath and toilets which are clean and very very adequate.
Comes with TV and clean, comfortable sheets and futons.

Breakfast and dinner provided were delicious and very filling. And although the owners don't speak much English, they are friendly and accomodatiing.

This minshuku has been mentioned in a few editions of Lonely Planet Japan, and I can see why.

Unique Quality: Friendly owners, cosy and clean facilties.
Nice location in Akan Kohan, near the lake.

Price of 5500yen per person comes with two meals. This is off-season pricing.

A woodscraft shop is on the 1st floor (see picture) selling very unique and cute wood carvings.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Phone: (0154) 67-2755
• Written January 3, 2003

Minshuku Kiri

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• KevinMichael
• Reviews: 377

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